by Devon Chipman | 23 Feb 2024 | Contest winners, Education, Educators' Catalog, Student Posts, Tatnall School, Youth Voices
Some school districts across the world find that one day less of classes per week can produce more effective learning. But not everyone is convinced. Girls in school uniforms head to classes. A calendar column shows that Mondays are off. (Illustration by Kaja Andrić)...
In an excellent piece written by high schooler Devon Chipman of News Decoder partner The Tatnall School, we consider the pros and cons of a four-day school week. Develop students’ critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning skills using this youth voice story.
Exercise: Before reading the article, ask your students whether or not they support a four-day school week. Then, read the article together and see if opinions have changed. After this initial discussion, facilitate a class debate on whether or not to implement a four-day school week at your school. Students should take on different personas in the debate to argue a perspective they may not personally agree with — school administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, students, college admission officers, etc. Each student contribution during the debate should incorporate evidence from the article.
by Kaja Andrić | 2 Feb 2024 | Education, Environment, European School Brussels, Journalism
News Decoder again partners with the Climate Academy to help students tell climate change stories and teachers to incorporate climate change into their classes. A globe in a classroom. (Photo by vitranc for Getty Images) Climate change may be the existential crisis of...
by Ama Okigbo | 23 Jan 2024 | Education, Student Posts, Technology, Thacher School, Youth Voices
We turn to technology to solve our problems but most of it is designed by men. One woman believes girls can program their own solutions. Girls sit in front of computers as they learn to code. (Photo illustration by News Decoder) This article, by high school student...
by News Decoder | 12 Dec 2023 | Contests, Education, European School Brussels, Journalism, News Decoder Updates, Realgymnasium Rämibühl Zürich, School Year Abroad, Student Posts, Tatnall School, Youth Voices
For the 14th News Decoder Storytelling Competition, the winning stories tackled human trafficking, river conservation and climate change. In its first year of working with News Decoder, the Tatnall School in the U.S. state of Delaware took both first and second prizes...
by Helen Womack | 17 Nov 2023 | Education, Journalism
First impressions are important. But with writing, the second draft is better. It helps to have an editor but sometimes you need to take on that role yourself. An editor has tightened up Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be” monologue. Illustration by...
by News Decoder | 7 Nov 2023 | Education, Journalism, Media Literacy, News Decoder Updates
To combat the spread of disinformation a new consortium will offer a digital tool to help teachers incorporate journalism into media literacy classes. A teen practices photojournalism. It is difficult for young people to navigate through all the information and...
by Marcy Burstiner | 2 Oct 2023 | Education, Journalism, Media Literacy, News Decoder Tips, Personal Reflections, Writing
Your opinion matters. But how you express that opinion in print can mean a yawning reader or one who can’t stop thinking about your ideas. Girl reads by flashlight under the covers. Illustration by News Decoder. If you go to a gathering and someone starts to...
by News Decoder | 29 Sep 2023 | Education, Journalism, Media Literacy
A media literacy organization asked for nominations of teachers and groups who teach youth about press freedom. Nominations came from all across the world. Children in a classroom and a blackboard that says “Test Monday: Press Freedom.” Illustration by...
by Helen Womack | 12 Sep 2023 | Education, Educators' Catalog, Journalism, Media Literacy, News Decoder Tips, Russia
A blank page confronts every writer on deadline. Turning that empty space into an article someone might read takes more than simply hitting keys on a keyboard. Two images of a woman at a typewriter trying to find an idea. Photo illustration by News Decoder. This...
ND correspondent Helen Womack takes us through her process of going from a blank page to a published article in this piece on confronting writer’s block. How can we help students find their voice?
Exercise: Read the article with your class, then have students brainstorm pitches that they can submit to News Decoder. How might their initial ideas be transformed into a publishable piece? Consider: global/local relevance of pitches, at least two sources to interview to investigate the topic, students’ unique angle on the topic. Students should then submit a pitch for an opportunity to work with our editors to be published on our global news site.
For further tips on interviewing and drafting, direct students to our asynchronous E-Learning courses. If you’re not a member of our school network, contact us to learn more about these members-only resources.
by News Decoder | 24 Aug 2023 | Education, News Decoder Updates
Important events are taking place around the world. It is essential that young people understand what is happening and why they should care. Photo illustration by News Decoder We believe that it is more important than ever that education be grounded in global...
